Cow-tail holder.



PATENTED JAN. 6,1903.

W. NOXON. v

COW TAIL HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED 001227, 1902,

H0 MODEL.

Q/vi/hwona UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM NOXON, OF BLOOMFIELD, CANADA.

COW-TAIL HOLDER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,712, dated January 6, 1903.

Application filed October 27, 1902. Serial No. 128,970. (No model.) 7

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM NOXON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Bloomfield, in the county of Prince Edward, Province of Ontario, and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cow-Tail Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will. enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved device for holding a cows tail, while being milked, to prevent the same from being switched in the milkers face or from brushing dirt into the milk-pail.

The object is to produce a simple and effective article of this character which may easily and quickly be attached and detached without causing annoyance or injury to the animal. 7

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and formation of the parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a detail plan View of the device, showing in broken lines the position of the parts of the clamp when in engagement with the cows tail.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the body of the holder, preferably composed of spring-wire bent to form an elongated loop approximately the shape of that portion ofthe animals leg to which it is to be attached.

2 denotes a coil formed in the wire a little outside the bend therein, as shown, in which position it will not interfere with the hand of the milker. The coil 2 is intended to give increased elasticity to the holder 1. The wire forming the inner side of the loop which engages the leg of the cow is turned at its end, forming a finish therefor, as well as a grip or finger-piece, which may be grasped to draw the ends of the loop apart when applying the device to the animals leg. On the end of the outer side of the said loop is formed an eye 3, to which is adapted to be attached a tail-clamp 4, forming the other portion of the holder. The clamp 4 consists,

preferably, of a single piece of wire bent midway its length to form a coil 5 and diverging arms 6. The arms 6 are bent inwardly near their ends and then outwardly to form hookshaped clamping-jaws 7. The tendency of the arms 6and jaws 7 is to spring apart, owing to the coil 5, formed at the bend of said arms. 8 denotes a ring carried by the hooked jaws 7 and is so arranged upon said jaws as to form a stop to prevent one of said jaws from being forced entirely past the other, and at the same time does not interfere with the inward compression of the arms of the clamp, as shown in full and broken lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The arm of the clamp adjacent to the leg of the cow is formedwith, an eye 9, which is adapted to receive the eye 3 of the leg-loop, whereby the tail-clamp is supported.

In applying the device the arms of the clamp 4 are compressed, thereby moving the inwardly-bent hooks past each other and forming an opening into which the tail of the cow is placed. Upon releasing the pressure upon said arms they will spring apart, thereby bringing the loops of the hooks into engagement with the cows tail and firmly holding the same against withdrawal. The extreme outer ends of the hooks or loops-forming the jaws 7 are turned inwardly upon themselves to form a smooth finish for said ends. I After the clamp has been attached to the cows tail (or before, if desired) the loop 1 is forced open and slipped upon the leg of the cow in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and preferably between the gambrel-joint and the flank.

The position of the attaching-eye 3,to which the tail-clamp is connected, is such that the said clamp and tail of the animal are drawn to one side and out of the way, so that the clamp will not become soiled by droppings of the animal.

In removing the device the arms of the tailclamp are again compressed and the jaws opened, when the clamp may be drawn out of engagement with the tail, and at the same time the coil in the leg-loop is grasped and the loop drawn from engagement with the leg.

An important advantage in the device shown is the convenience with which it is applied and the fact that the tail (which is afttimes in a soiled condition) or any other part of the animal does not have to be touched with the hands when applying or removing the device.

A further advantage of the holder lies in the fact that while the device may be readily and easily applied the same cannot become accidentally disengaged and will firmly hold the tail until released by the attendant.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of the device will be readily apparent Without requiring a further description.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details'of construction may be resorted to without departing from the prinoiple or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A cow-tail holder,comprisinga leg-clamp consisting of a wire loop bent to conform approximately to the shape of the cows leg, and a tail-clamp consisting of arms converging to form a spring-coil at one end and formed at their opposite ends with inwardly-projecting hook-shaped jaws, a ring adapted to engage said jaws to hold the same together, and

means for loosely connecting said tail and leg clamps together, substantially as described.

2. A cow-tail holder,comprising a leg-clamp consisting of a loop formed of a continuous wire bent to conform approximately to the shape of the cows leg and having a coil-spring formed in said loop, and an attaching-eye formed on one end thereof, and a tail-clamp consisting of a single continuous Wire bent midway its length to form a spring-coil, and arms diverging from said coil, inwardly-projecting hook-shaped jaws formed on the ends of said arms, a ring adapted to engage said arms to prevent undue separation of said jaws, and an eye formed on one of said arms and adapted to engage the eye formed on one end of the leg loop or clamp whereby said tail-clamp is supported, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM NOXON.

Witnesses:

E. M. CONGER, RICHD. H. HUBBS. 

